The last time you shopped for shoes, you probably saw the words “arch support” proudly displayed on countless insoles, inserts, and footwear boxes. For decades, we’ve been told that our feet need extra support, as if somehow they’re not strong enough to carry us naturally.
At OESH Shoes, we believe it’s time to challenge that myth. Your feet were designed to move, and when you give them freedom, they can thrive!
The Myth of Arch Support
US Patent for Arch Support, 1897
Arch supports were first designed in the mid 19th and early 20th century, during the heyday of unregulated patent medicine in America. Without much deviation from those original designs, arch support has become ubiquitous in nearly all styles and types of footwear.
Traditional shoes often promise to “support your arches” as if they’re fragile structures that need constant assistance, but science and thousands of years of human movement say otherwise.
Your arches are actually dynamic, flexible springs that adapt and respond to every step. When you restrict them with rigid supports, you prevent your muscles, tendons, and ligaments from doing their job. Over time, that can lead to weakness, pain, and even injury.
What Your Feet Really Need
Sometimes certain conditions or injuries require specialized supports or orthotics, ideally under the advice of a professional, and generally this should be temporary.
Healthy feet need:
- Freedom to move naturally
- Freedom to distribute weight across the entire sole
- Compliant, bouncy surface that works with your body, not against it
That’s exactly why OESH Shoes are designed differently. Our patented designs are flat in every direction, flexible, and springy, engineered by Harvard-trained physician Dr. Casey Kerrigan to promote natural movement and whole-body alignment.
Instead of forcing your foot into an unnatural shape, OESH shoes let your muscles engage and strengthen with every step. The result is stronger feet, better posture, and long-lasting comfort — no arch support required.
The Empowering Science Behind Every Step
Women’s bodies are not simply smaller versions of men’s — and yet, most footwear is still designed around male biomechanics. OESH was founded to change that. Every pair is built from the ground up using data-driven design based on women’s movement and health. You don’t need a rebranded high heel that constrains your feet from every direction, increases the forces on your joints, and forces your body into an unnatural gait. You just need a shoe that lets your feet do what they were built to do.
When you wear OESH, you’re not just choosing a shoe — you’re joining a movement that values science, strength, and freedom.
Step Into Strength
If you’ve been searching for shoes that truly respect your body, it’s time to rethink what you’ve been told about “arch support.” Muscles get stronger with use. You wouldn’t put casts on unbroken arms, so don’t immobilize your feet without giving them a chance.
Discover how amazing your feet can feel when they’re allowed to move naturally.
Shop OESH Shoes today and experience the freedom of footwear that empowers every step. What to learn more? Read about why Zero-Drop shoes matter on our blog.
